Shloka 16
सर्वान् महीपान् सहितान् कुरंनश्न तथैव देवासुरसिद्धयक्षान् । अलं विजेतुं समरे सुतस्ते स्वनुछित: सारथिना हि तेन,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजा विराटको बहुत दुःखी देखकर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उनसे हँसकर कहा--“नरेन्द्र! यदि बृहन्नला सारथि है, तो यह विश्वास कीजिये कि शत्रु आज आपकी वे गौएँ नहीं ले जा सकेंगे। उस हितैषी सारथिके सहयोगसे सब कार्य ठीक-ठीक कर लेनेपर आपका पुत्र युद्धमें समस्त राजाओं तथा संगठित होकर आये हुए कौरवोंकी तो बात ही क्या, देवता, असुर, सिद्ध और यक्षोंपर भी निश्चय ही विजय पा सकता है'
sarvān mahīpān sahitān kuraṁś ca tathāiva devāsura-siddha-yakṣān | alaṁ vijetuṁ samare sutas te svanuccitaḥ sārathinā hi tena | vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó Janamejaya, com aquele cocheiro ao seu lado, teu filho é plenamente capaz, no campo de batalha, de conquistar todos os reis reunidos — e até mesmo os Kauravas congregados — e, além deles, também os deuses, os asuras, os siddhas e os yakṣas. Tal é a vantagem decisiva concedida por um cocheiro leal e hábil, cujo apoio permite levar toda tarefa ao seu devido cumprimento.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive power of right support: a capable, loyal charioteer (symbolizing guidance, skill, and counsel) can make even a hesitant or inexperienced warrior ‘fit’ for victory. Ethically, it underscores that success in righteous action often depends not only on personal valor but also on wise assistance and proper execution of duties.
In the Virāṭa episode, reassurance is being given that with the chosen charioteer’s help, the prince can defeat the assembled opponents—named broadly as kings and the Kauravas—using hyperbolic praise that extends even to celestial classes (devas, asuras, siddhas, yakṣas), emphasizing overwhelming confidence in the charioteer’s effectiveness.